Vettel victory sparks a Red Bull assault
RESURGENT Red Bull laid down the gauntlet to championship leader Jenson Button and his Brawn GP team after registering an impressive one-two in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
Young pretender Sebastian Vettel cruised to a third Grand Prix victory ahead of team-mate Mark Webber, while Button, winner of six races already this season, finished well off the pace in a distant sixth.
The result still leaves Button with a substantial 23-point championship lead ahead of team-mate Rubens Barrichello, who came in third.
But with Vettel now just two points behind the Brazilian in third, Red Bull boss Christian Horner is confident his team can launch a late rally with their updated RB5 car at the peak of its powers. “It was a completely seamless race by both drivers and they completely dominated it,” he said. “We can really mount a championship challenge from here. A car that works well here should be quick at all the remaining circuits.”
Delighted Vettel added: “The start was very important and in the first stint I tried to push as hard as I could and make a gap. That worked perfectly and I had a fantastic car. The tyres were fantastic as well. This was a step in the right direction.”
For Button, is was the first time he had failed to make the podium this season, as both he and Barrichello struggled for optimum grip from their tyres in the low temperatures at Silverstone. Barrichello challenged Vettel for the lead on the opening corner but simply couldn’t keep pace with the young German, who drove a flawless race from the front.
Webber then passed Barrichello at the first pit-stop to join his Red Bull team-mate out front and the pair were untroubled in cruising to a second one-two of the season.
Button did manage to find some pace at the end, however, impressively closing down on Nico Rosberg in the battle for fifth, only to fall just short. Indeed, the Brit was encouraged enough to remain unfazed by the Red Bull challenge in defending his championship lead. “Their new aero package has helped them a lot but I don’t think the advantage is as big as it looks,” Button said. “I think it’s just because our car is not working in these temperatures.”
Last year’s winner Lewis Hamilton finished in a career-low 16th.
BRITISH GP RACE RESULT
1 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) (Red Bull) 1hr 22:49.328
2 Mark Webber (Aus) (Red Bull) +15.188
3 Rubens Barrichello (Bra) (Brawn GP) +41.175
4 Felipe Massa (Bra) (Ferrari) +45.043
5 Nico Rosberg (Ger) (Williams) +45.915
6 Jenson Button (GBR) (Brawn GP +46.285
7 Jarno Trulli (Ita) (Toyota) +1.08.307
8 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) (Ferrari) +1.09.622
F1 OVERALL STANDINGS
1 Jenson Button (Brawn GP) 64pts
2 Rubens Barrichello (Brawn GP) 41
3 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) 39
4 Mark Webber (Red Bull) 35.5
5 Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 21.5
6 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 16
7 Nico Rosberg (Williams) 15.5
8 Timo Glock (Toyota) 13